Following sentencing from May 2020 for pressing his knee on the back of the late George Floyd, Derek Chauvin recently faced another conviction, this time regarding his civil rights.
The former Minneapolis police officer was sentenced in a federal court to an additional 21 years in prison for violating both Floyd’s rights and that of a young boy’s as well. The sentence will coincide with the 22.5 years that Chauvin has already been convicted.
But now comes a question – what does this mean when it comes to how the public will view the police? Following what happened weeks ago in the Uvalde shooting and now this conviction, there’s concern that people will look at those with badges with great concern, despite the role they’re playing in their protection. We’ve already seen a few examples of this, including a Detroit-based vegan ice cream shop that refuses to serve officers in tactical gear.
Joining us now to discuss this further is Michael Letts, a pro-police advocate who serves as founder and CEO for InVest USA. They are an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers across the country, through various charitable organizations and sponsorships. His input should provide further weight on this matter.
Q&A:
- What do you think about the press’ recent reactions to Chauvin’s guilty verdict for what happened to George Floyd? There’s some belief that they may be going too far with their coverage.
- This, paired with the negativity towards Uvalde police from the shooting weeks ago, could paint a negative picture of the police. How big a concern would you say this is at the moment, especially when they’re trying to keep people safe?
- Do you believe coverage like this will likely continue to “push the narrative” that things need to change? How do you think it will affect officers who are just trying to do their job on a day-by-day basis?
- The recent Detroit vegan ice cream incident paints a picture of separation, with those in riot gear not able to get served. Do you believe other businesses could do this in the future with the negative reception?
- How do you think coverage of things like this should be done? Let’s say you were in charge at CNN. How would you go about it?
- Where can we learn more about InVest USA?
- You can visit the official website at http://www.investusa.org.
About Michael Letts:
Michael Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. Those interested in learning more about Letts can visit his official website here.
CONTACT: Gerald McGlothlin at: jerry.specialguests@gmail.com
